The Chicago White Sox have beaten the Los Angeles Angels of Aneheim in five games to win the 2005 American League Championship Series and now move on to the World Series. I have three points:

1. In September, I thought the White Sox were dead. They were ramping up for the biggest regular-season collapse in baseball history. The Cleveland Indians cut the lead to 1½ games. I expected the Indians to pass the White Sox and win the division. In stead, the White Sox swept the Indians in the final three games of the season, then swept the defending World Champion Boston Red Sox in three games in the ALDS, and now have taken the final four games of the ALCS to win in five.

2. The Yankees did not lose to the eventual winner — or win the World Series — for the first time since 1998. Every year since then the Yankees have either won the WS, lost the WS, or lost to eventual Champion Angels (2002), or lost to eventual Champion Red Sox (2004). This year the Yankees lost to the Angels again, but the White Sox have eliminated the Angels.

3. It’s a conspiracy to sell Cubs merchandise. I said this last year. By winning the 2004 World Series, the Red Sox shed their “loveable loser” status. That left the Chicago Cubs as the biggest loser in baseball. This year, the White Sox are poised to not only shed the stigma of perennial failure, they are poised to separate themselves from their crosstown rival Cubs.

The 2005 Division Series are over, and my picks went one for four.

I never thought the White Sox would sweep the Red Sox. I watched game three of that series, and although I was rooting against Boston, I didn’t feel elated at their defeat … instead, I felt kind of somber resignation. Maybe I wanted them to lose to the Yankees. Maybe I’ve seen the Red Sox players’ faces on Yankees players in years past. Like two years ago, when New York lost to the Angels.

I was in attendance at Turner Field for Houston-Atlanta game two. It was a lot of fun, and I think it turned me into a Braves fan. I’ve never really liked the Braves, although over the years I have developed a healthy amount of respect for Chipper Jones, John Smoltz, and departed Braves Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine. I knew I had turned when I stood up while Brad Ausmus’s ninth-inning shot hung in the air — and felt deflated when it was called a home run. I thought the Braves would get by the Astros. When they were up by five runs I almost got on the Internet and got a ticket for game five in Atlanta.

The Cardinals swept the Padres. No surprise there.

And that brings us to the Angels-Yankees series. The New York Baseball Yankees … let me down again. I can sum it up with one word: FACK! If Bubba Crosby and Gary Sheffield don’t collide on that deep fly … two runs don’t score … and Jeter’s home run in the seventh ties it …

So I don’t know if I’ll watch any of the remaining series. I should watch the World Series, but we’ll see. Damn those Angels.

Just got back from the Braves game. I’ve got pictures, but I’ll put them up in a future post. The Braves beat the Astros 7-1. There was a very light rain throughout the game — not even a drizzle. I brought a jacket, and I put it on around the sixth inning, but I’d guess the temperature never got out of the high sixties. About one minute after I got out of the parking lot, though, the rain let loose. For the rest of the ride home it alternated between pouring and sprinkling. At least it held out until after the game.

I can’t believe how many empty seats there were. There were a lot in the highest deck, but there were about ten seats around me that were empty. I took a picture of them.

There were two fights in seats behind me. The first involved an old lady. Some beer went flying. She got kicked out.

I looked around for a store that had AA batteries in stock (I hate my digital camera), and somebody yelled “Yankees suck!” I didn’t really notice, but then he said it again and pointed at me, and I noticed. He had a Red Sox hat. Then he pointed at his chest and said something about his shirt, which also said, “Yankees suck.” So I went up and talked to him. He was on his way moving and stopped in Atlanta for the Patriots game and was taking in a Braves game, too. Before I left he said, “Yankees suck” again and I countered with “Red Sox are down 2-0 — Gonna lose!” So I think I got him.

I got a free red fluffy tomahawk, which makes the ticket worth its price.

There was a guy with his like, eight year old kid behind me. He kept telling him to keep his glove on and “play the field.” He wouldn’t let him touch their red fluffy tomahawk unless the big screens said, “Chop Rally.” Or whatever it was the screens say when they want you to do the tomahawk chop. He asked the kid who Andy Pettitte plays for. The kid answered, “The Yankees.” Dad said, “No! … he hasn’t been there for two seasons … He’s on the Astros.” I think he was pissed. I think the kid wanted to leave after about two innings, because the dad was going on about how much he paid for the tickets.

I was in the second row, but still only about 4 feet away from the third base line Ball Boy. A couple balls came pretty close to me, but nothing was in my reach. And the Ball Boy kept giving balls to kids! Dammit!

Everybody around me spotted Roger Clemens throwing some balls in left field before the game started. The visitors’ bullpen is off left field at Turner Field, so he went in before the start of the game. We were all expecting him to walk by us in the middle of the first, but there must be a tunnel between the bullpen and the dugout, because he slipped by all of us.

Pics tomorrow. Probably.

So I’m watching the Astros-Braves game on TV today, and it’s not a sellout. So I think to myself, “I wonder if tickets are available for game 2.”

They are.

I got a ticket. That’s singular. I’m pathetic. But anyway, it’s supposed to rain tomorrow. And tomorrow night. The game is scheduled for 8 PM. Roger Clemens is starting. And John Smoltz. My seat is up the third base line, near the left field corner.

Because of the rain, I actually expect a rain-out. But they’d have to play the game Friday, which is fine with me. Although rain is in the forecast for Friday, too. And Saturday. Maybe they will play it Thursday.

I hope to score one of those red foam tomahawks.

Even though the MLB Playoffs started yesterday, I’m posting my picks now. It’s not BS, either, because even though the Red Sox lost game 1 I am sticking with them over the White Sox. My picks:

League Division Series:
New York Yankees – 3 games, Los Angeles Angels of Aneheim – 1 game
Boston Red Sox – 3 games, Chicago White Sox – 1 game
San Diego Padres – 0 games, St. Louis Cardinals – 3 games
Houston Astros – 2 game, Atlanta Braves – 3 games

League Championship Series:
Boston Red Sox- 2 games, New York Yankees – 4 games
Atlanta Braves – 1 game, St. Louis Cardinals – 4 games

World Series:
St. Louis Cardinals – 2 games, New York Yankees – 4 games

Yeah, it’s homerism. I’m picking the Yankees. But their pitching has come around, their offense is running on most or all cylinders. I don’t think the White Sox are for real. The Astros-Braves series will be the most exciting series of the postseason. The Padres are outclassed by the Cardinals.

The Yanks will pick off the Red Sox because Boston’s pitching staff is in bad shape, and all their hitters except Manny and Ortiz seem to be tired. They’ll get some 2-run shots, some 3-run shots, but they won’t get by New York. I think Atlanta will keep the games against St. Louis close, but lose in five.

Finally, I don’t think the Cardinals have the fire to get by the Yankees. They’ve been bored since August. They’ll phone it in against the Padres. The Braves series will only go five, but it’ll wear them down. They’ll scrape a couple against the Yankees, get blown out in one or two, and drop the rest.